A life that is coerced into relinquishing its freedom, deprived, stripped of fundamental human rights, and forced to endure a quandary of subservient existential crisis, is unwarranted, as it epitomizes totalitarianism – an inexplicable expression of tyranny. It calls for emancipation and is a necessity, as tyranny possesses disdain and extreme hatred for the persecuted citizens who are wronged by those who govern and wield power. Here, the sanctity of life is begrudged and belittled, and the value of life is mercilessly squashed by the ruthless and the powerful.
What is freedom then for those shrouded in darkness? Is it possible to penetrate and eradicate the brutality of despotism? Can we dare to dream the impossible dream? Will darkness ever see the light of day? Will wars be forsaken, and peace for humanity become the new order?
Surviving in a dystopian world is akin to being blindfolded by force, where the bulwark of privileges and liberties is blown into smithereens. Lives are perpetually engulfed in the chasm of dominance, with no hope in sight, infiltrated with a constant sense of fear. Obstacles are strewn at each step, and the contagion of hopelessness and failure of humanity laments for freedom, grounded and mutilated by the tyrants.
We witness innocents dying, children being tortured, men disappearing from their homes, families disintegrating, and strangers intruding, all while terror and oppression become the norm and values are impeached. Is this life? Are we meant to suffer and go through these atrocities that permeate and invade lives, instilling a sense of fear? Death looms with each breath, and orders are enforced, obviously – not by choice, but by a peculiar force of uncertainty, an unknown that seems to hover around at all times. Fear cripples generations, weakening the youth.
These are some of the questions that plagued my mind while reading this book. The author, Paul Lynch, weaves a masterpiece, depicting plausible dystopian prose with great finesse. The exquisite writing style portrays a gloomy apocalypse experienced through the eyes of our protagonist Eilish and her family during oppression, striking a chord with the reader, immediately transporting one to experience the turmoil and oppression faced by the people of Dublin during the time of tyranny.
The empirical fear of losing one’s individuality, accompanied by innumerable human sacrifices, permeates deeply into the heart of darkness. The ability to exercise discernment during crises, the impact on relationships, the loss of family, and a once-happy home filled with love and joy – all these emotions are palpable and echo throughout the protagonist’s journey.
“Prophet Song” is an immersive lyrical story, a beautiful attempt to expose the brutalities of a totalitarian state and the lives lost in transition, reflecting the harsh realities endured by its citizens. But why? It serves to satisfy the insatiable desire of the power-hungry in governance, who propagate disparity and misery to establish complete dominion and impose political imperialism, leaving me with the question: why must lives be sacrificed?